The US GP was one of the most happening races of this season. From on-track clashes to off-track draa, the F1 offered everything in the last week. The biggest question was around Red Bull’s contentious height adjuster, which FIA confirmed. Following this, RBR agreed to put a seal on the knob so there was no suspicion.
However, the rival team bosses were unhappy with the investigation as they suspected a Parc Ferme breach. First, Zak Brown criticized the FIA for not taking serious action to punish the offenders. Now, he is joined by the Mercedes chief, who found this entire conundrum outrageous.
Mercedes Chief Calls For Strict Action Against Red Bull By FIA Leaders
Toto Wolff expressed his frustration following the events at the Austin Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s use of a controversial device came under scrutiny once again. He labeled the situation “outrageous” after observing a demonstration provided by Red Bull to the FIA, which involved explaining how the system worked. During Friday’s practice session, two FIA officials were inspecting the device in the Red Bull garage, and a large tool used in the demonstration sparked particular suspicion from Wolff.
Wolff found the demonstration, captured by Sky Sports F1, unusual, especially the use of a tool resembling a broom, which he sarcastically highlighted. He was critical of how the situation was handled, emphasizing that simply promising not to use the device again wasn’t sufficient. In his view, this kind of assurance failed to address the broader concerns about how the device was used in previous races.
Nikolas Tombazis from the FIA had earlier commented that the issue was no longer relevant moving forward, as measures were being implemented to monitor compliance. However, Tombazis also acknowledged that the FIA could not definitively close the chapter on whether the device had given Red Bull an advantage in earlier races due to the competitive nature of the sport. Reacting to these remarks, Wolff indicated he wasn’t entirely satisfied with the response. He stated that it seemed like the issue had gone unnoticed for too long. He urged the FIA to take a deeper look into the matter, suggesting that further investigation was necessary to ensure fairness in Formula 1.
Christian Horner Defends Red Bull, Claims FIA Action Only Eased Rivals Paranoia
Before Toto Wolff’s comments surfaced on Sunday, McLaren’s chief, Zak Brown, had already voiced concerns regarding Red Bull’s controversial device. Brown, speaking on Friday, expressed doubt over Red Bull’s explanation, suggesting that it didn’t hold up. He even hinted at the possibility of significant consequences if the team was found guilty of using the device illegally.
However, Christian Horner quickly dismissed the accusations. He suggested that the criticisms stemmed from “paranoia” within McLaren’s camp and were possibly a distraction from their own challenges. He pointed out that the FIA had also asked McLaren to modify a ‘mini-DRS’ rear wing device after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, implying that other teams had their own issues.
Horner reassured that Red Bull’s device had been publicly available for years and that the FIA had already cleared it. He emphasized that the governing body’s actions were more about addressing the concerns of rivals than any real infringement on Red Bull’s part. Horner suggested that the complaints were likely an attempt by McLaren to shift focus away from their own struggles.